Porto starlet Ruben Neves is reportedly unhappy at the club and is pushing for an exit. Premier League side Liverpool FC have been heavily linked to the midfielder, and would have to pay close to £17 million if they are to secure the services of the youngster.
According to Diario de Noticias, Neves’s agent Jorge Mendes is plotting an exit for the player, as Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is eagerly awaiting the opportunity to sign the 19-year-old. Given Porto’s dire financial constraints due to Financial Fair Play implications, they would be willing to let go of the player for as little as £16.7 million.
With the talent Neves possesses, an asking rate that low could prove to be a bargain for Klopp. A central midfielder by trade, the Portuguese starlet also puts in an incredible shift on the defensive front. He is calm with the ball at his feet and equally good his in slide tackles. He also known to carry the ball from midfield into the opposition penalty area, and with his blistering pace and immaculate dribbling ability, his movement on the field is a sight to behold.
In the 2015/16 Champions League, he played in all six of his side’s games and performed exceedingly well. He averaged 2.5 tackles and 2 interceptions per appearance in Europe’s elite club competition. Neves also had a solid pass accuracy of 85.7 per cent, explaining Jurgen Klopp’s interest in signing him. Given his potential, it may be only a matter of months before we see the young Portuguese give Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson a fight for the midfield berth.
Rivals Manchester United are reportedly keeping tabs on Neves
According to the Sun, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is a fan of the FC Porto starlet, and that he has been keeping his eyes on him ever since his days at Stamford Bridge. Mourinho would be looking to overhaul the relatively experienced side he took over from Louis van Gaal by adding a bit of youngsters to it. His first signing Eric Bailly, showcased that the manager is looking for quality young players and wouldn’t mind spending top-dollar to lure the hottest prospects around Europe.
In the 2015/16 season campaign, Morgan Schneiderlin was touted to be an able holding midfielder, but failed to live up to his billing due to numerous injury concerns. At 34, it would be virtually impossible for Michael Carrick to start every game, which sees the link to Ruben Neves make a lot of sense. Within a couple of seasons, he would be fully ready for first team football in the Premier League, and may go on to be one of English football’s finest central midfielders.